Nuding’s late bucket saves Boilers

Friday

Nov 30, 2012 at 10:29 PMNov 30, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Kewanee moves to 2-0 in TRAC-9

Mike Landis

After racing to an 18-point lead in the first quarter, the Kewanee Boilermakers didn't figure late-game heroics would be necessary in Friday night's home opener against Morrison.However, a bucket from Dalton Nuding with five seconds remaining finally allowed the Boilers to subdue the resilient Mustangs 71-68 at Brockman Gym."We're lucky to come out of that with a win," said Kewanee coach Steve Salisbury. "I told the team that even though we should have won by more, last year that's a game we would've lost. Hopefully we're going to build on that."It was all Boilers early as Dayton Ince hit two quick treys and Nuding scored 11 points to stake the hosts to a 22-4 lead."We came out and played great and we were getting something out of our defense," said Salisbury. "Then our defensive intensity went away. We were giving up too many easy baskets and putbacks."Morrison scored the final seven points of the first quarter to trim the deficit to 22-11, then pulled within 29-27 on an Alexander Volckmann bucket midway through the second frame. Ince scored five points in a 7-0 Kewanee run to halt the Mustangs and take a 38-30 lead into the break.Morrison pulled within two points twice in the third quarter, then finally overtook the Boilers 57-56 with 5:22 left in the game on a Hunter Hamstra bucket. The Mustangs pushed the lead to 61-56, but Kewanee answered with an Ince trey and a putback by Donovan Oliver to pull even at 61-all."Dayton never panicked and he kept his composure all night," said Salisbury of Ince's big three to stop Morrison's run. "We expect him to hit those shots."Another Oliver hoop on the offensive glass gave the Boilers a 67-65 lead with 57 seconds to play.Morrison promptly answered with Alex Weeks drilling a three with 45 seconds remaining to put the Mustangs back in front 68-67.With 18 seconds left and Morrison still nursing its 68-67 lead, Mustangs guard Matt Wilkens missed the front end of the one-and-bonus, giving the Boilers a shot at the win.Nuding delivered with a 5-footer along the baseline with five seconds left to make it 69-68 Boilers. "Dalton had a great game," said Salisbury. "For his size, what he gets done down in the paint is unbelievable."The Mustangs turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass, and Ince added the game's final points with a pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds left.Morrison's final heave to force overtime sailed wide and the Boilers survived a scare to improve to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Three Rivers Conference.Ince finished with 27 points for the Boilers, while Nuding added 21. Oliver pitched in with another double-double — 16 points and 12 rebounds.Volckmann led the Mustangs with 23 points. Morrison falls to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in conference.In the opener, the Riveters defeated Morrison 69-50.Kewanee trailed 27-25 at the half, but put up 44 second-half points to pull away for the win.Kentrel Welcome led three Riveters in double figures with 17 points. Denzel Davenport added 13 points and 15 rebounds, Zach Brown tossed in 16 points and Cody Goforth dished six assists.The Riveters are 3-2 overall and 2-0 in conference.